Note Quite, But Almost Decision Time

[mikei]

Hello All,

I have an over stocked 180 gallon tank. I have about 300 lbs of lava rock, but took 100 or so out as my little ones are starting to grow up.

I am going to have to start getting rid of some fish soon as tempers are flaring a bit. Nobody is hurt or missing scales, but the aggression is starting to escalate a bit. I saw lip locking for the first time between my 5 inch jag and 5 inch dovii.

The king of my tank is a 10 inch male Red Devil (or Midas). He nudges a fish here or there, but is for the most part very peaceful.

His offspring (now a 9 inch RD/Parrot mix) is number 2 in the pecking order. Not a very violent fish at all.

I have an 8 inch Oscar who is just the sweetest fish and nobody messes with him and he messes with nobody.

Now the possible problems.

But, I now have a 5 inch Jag / 4 in Jag PAIR. They have recently paired up. Additionally, I have a great looking PAIR of JDs. One is 5 inches and the other is 4.

I have a single 5.5 inch female dovii who is fairly docile except for her dislike of the Jags.

I have a 5 inch GT that is fairly calm.

I have a very aggressive 3.5 inch Texas that takes no crap from anyone.

I have 2 Africans that while a bit aggressive, never hurt anyone.

And finally, I have 3 parrot hybrids that no one seems to mind.

Oh yes, and a 12 inch pleco.

Everything is calm now, but the tension is escalating. I am going to have to make a choice as to who stays and who goes.

My dovii and one jag are from Rapps, so they are very beautiful. The JD's are incredible, and the Texas is pretty too.

I will have to continue to watch, but if I find any that start to become problems, I will have to give a couple away.

If I need to, I will give them away free to good homes to anyone in the Los Angeles (Antelope Valley) area.

Stay tuned....

 

[shamrock]

For sure I would split the Jag pair-as a matter of fact I would keep either one Jag or one Dovii-consp. tend to not get along.

 

[Citrinellus]

^ I agree. I would only get rid of the jag not from rapps. Without its breeding partner the aggression might lower between him and the dovii.

 

[crisper]

I am quite suprised your rd/midas has'nt killed most of your fish already considering he is so much larger than your other fish. Keeping the jags and dovii together will definately not work imo.
If you want to keep it a community I would keep the one jag the oscar the gt and the jd's.

 

[devder1]

i dont think your overstocked, as far as bioload goes, but those fish are just naturally aggressive i would start getting rid of the aggressors and trying to find fish that fit together better personality wise

 

[shamrock]

i dont think your overstocked, as far as bioload goes, but those fish are just naturally aggressive i would start getting rid of the aggressors and trying to find fish that fit together better personality wise

11 fish that get anywhere from 10 inches to 24 inches isn't overstocked?